Art & Life with Katie Mask

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Mask.

Katie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always loved creativity and new ideas. While attending college at Brigham Young University, I decided to go into Advertising. In my mind, Advertising was the perfect blend of art and business. I became an Art Director, creating print ads, designing social media campaigns, overseeing the visuals for commercials, and much more. Although a lot of the work was “spec” work, I also got to work with brands such as Nike, Amazon, Intellibed, Skullcandy, and more.

My education landed me an internship at RPA Advertising in Santa Monica. It was an amazing experience to be part of a real ad agency. But it was here that my road shifted. Right before starting the internship, I found out I was pregnant! Although I love advertising, my husband and I decided that after finishing the internship, we would move to AZ, where he is from, while we start our family.

But of course, I wanted to stay in touch with my artistic and creative side. While waiting for our little girl to arrive, I started katie&co. graphic design. The name will always have special meaning to me – you see, my daughter is the “co” or “company” of katie&co. Even before she arrived, I felt a special bond to her and felt as though she was cheering me on. Now she’s a couple of months old (and seriously the CUTEST baby on Planet Earth. We are obsessed.), and I still feel as though she’s cheering me on as I continue to pursue my dreams. I know that as I continue to chase my goals and dream big, I will be teaching her to do the same.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a graphic designer, specializing in branding work. I help companies create logos, branding materials, websites, flyers, and so much more. I love helping companies take their vision and turn it into reality. I love helping them put their best foot forward. I work closely with my clients, getting to know them as a person and their vision for their business. I do my research on their type of business and what they’re looking to accomplish. Then I take that vision and create something new, fresh, and AWESOME. After some more collaboration, we’re able to nail down a final product or design – something we’re both very proud of!

Each company and each project calls for a different message and inspiration, and it’s so fun to go on that journey with each client. For katie&co, the central message or goal is to inspire and motivate business owners to continue to chase their dreams. By helping them bring their vision to reality, I can help these business owners stay motivated and excited about their work.

My work is a labor of love. I love what I do, and I love helping people. Each day brings something new and exciting – there’s never a dull moment! I hope that my passion for this work shines through the designs that I create. If you’re a business owner, or anyone looking for design help, I’d love to help YOU! I’m confident that I can help you bring your ideas to life. 🙂

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I definitely think the role of artists has changed – I believe that they’ve expanded. In the past, art was seen as something to simply entertain, and “art” was a very narrow category. Nowadays, I believe we see art for what it is and how it can help our lives. We recognize that art is not only painting and sculpture, but it’s architecture, it’s a business logo, it’s floral design, it’s product design, and so much more. I believe we’ve been able to apply, use, appreciate, and participate in art more in everyday life.

Art has also changed in how we produce it. Everything is becoming more digital. We can produce things faster and easier, and it can be seen anywhere in the world in seconds. It’s amazing!

I work with a variety of different categories of companies and businesses, so my art is heavily affected by national and international issues and events. When new technology is introduced, brands need to adapt and adopt that change, and I help them do that. A lot of my work is used for a brands social media pages, which are constantly trying to keep up with new events and information. This is why I love graphic design – it’s always changing with the world around it. I love the new challenges and ideas that come each and every day.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can see my work on my website, katiecodesign.com! You’ll find out more about me, the work that I’ve done, the process of graphic design work, and how I can help you. I’ll also be releasing some business and social media guides in the near future. You can also follow me on Instagram @katiemask.

If anyone you know owns a business or is looking for a graphic designer, give them my name! I’d love to help. Recommendations and referrals are the biggest and best way to support a designer!

Contact Info:

• Website: katiecodesign.com
• Email: katiecodesign@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/katiemask

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